The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-10-15


made his appearance out of the thicket
the bull did not. wait for his contest
ants charge, but, lowering his great
head to the ground. he rushed madly
upon the bear. The latter seemed to
appreciate the abilities of the bull, and
summoned all the wariness Of his ma
turc to his aid. He waited until the
bull was almost upon him, and then
sprang aside with marvellous quickness,
seized his assailant's horns in his pow
erful grasp, and pressed his head down
against the ground by mis- great strength
and the weight of his enormous body,
biting at the bulls nose and tearing
the flesh from his neck and shoulders
with his long sharp claws. This posi-
ton was maintained for at least five
minutes, the bull struggling desperate
ly to free his head, but being unable to
accomplish it, while the bear put forth
every muscle to press the bulls body
to the ground. The blood poured from
the bulls nostrils in great streams, but
the bear had as yet received no appar-
emit injury.
Presently both animals paused in
their desperate struggle, as each was
blown and rapidly approaching ex-
haustion. The bear did not relax the
hold he had obtained on his contestant.
As yet, during the fight, neither ami
NAL had uttered sound. except their
loud and labored breathing. The ces-
sation in the struggle had probably
been of ten minutes duration. when
suddenly the bull made one desperate
lunge, broke the motionless but terrible
embrace. hurled the bear from off his
head and backed away probably ten
PAGES. The bear lifted his huge form
on his launches and stood ready for
the next assault. The herd of cattle
had by this time gathered in from the
plain and surrounded the combatants,
moaning and believing, and paving
up the ground. but maintaining ter
rified neutrality. From my position in
the tree watched the exciting scene
with breathless interest
THE bull did not remain at rest a
moment after backing away for a new
charge, but, rendered furious by his
wounds, he gathered all his energies.
and with an unearthly cry rushed with
impetuous force and ferocity upon the
bear. The latter attempted to use the
tactics that had served him so well at
the first onslaught. but the second
charge of the bull was irresistible, in
spite Of the bears terrific blows with
his paws, and the grizzly went down in
the dust before his crazed antagonist,
and vsinly tried to defend himself. The
bull thrust his horns in under the bear.
caught him in the belly with one of the
sharp weapons, and with one furious
sweep of his head tore the grizzly open
until his entrails protruded. Then the
grizzly rose to his feet, and with roar
that made my blood run cold closed
with his terrible enemy. and for long
time the two fought, their cries aud the
cries of the surrounding cattle being
frightful to listen to.
"While the fight was going on two
great eagles appeared from some mys-
terious erie and sailed and circled above
the scene Of the conflict, leisurely and
gradually dropping nearer to the earth.
Almost simultaneously with the ap-
pearance of the eagles l saw the heads
Of half dozen hungry wolves emerge
| from the bushes where the fight had
begun. 1 knew that the battle must
soon end. and that the eagles and the
wolves had scented the contest from
afar, and knew by their infallible in
stinct that it must result in choice prey
for them. The presence of these hungry
birds and beasts of prey added to the
terror of the bloody conflict
The terrible fight continued. The
ground was torn up and covered with
blood for many feet around. Both ami
mails were grievously wounded TWAS
plain that neither could hold ont much
longer. Manned and cory, they fought
with the certainty of death. the bear
rolling over and over in the dust vainly
trying to avoid the fatal horns of his
adversary. and the multiplying, thrust
ing and tearing the grizzly with ire
sistible ferocity. At last, as If deter
mined to end the conflict the bull drew
back, lowered his head, and made .
third terrific charge, but, blinded by
the streams Of blood that poured down
his face, he missed his mark, stumbled,
and rolled headlong on the ground. In
spite Of his frightful injuries and great
exhaustion, the bear turned quickly and
sprang upon his PROSTATE enemy. He
seemed to have been suddenly invigor-
ated by this turn of the battle in his
favor. With merciless sweeps Of his
huge claws he tore the flesh in great